HUMAN RELATIONS COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES

November 17, 2004

 

 

 

COMMISSIONERS PRESENT:    Vice-Chair Bob Mikesic, Commissioners Bob Augelli, Wendi Coleman, Ray Chao, Barbara Hillmer, and Ernesto Hodison

 

COMMISSIONERS ABSENT:      Chair Steve Ramirez, and Commissioner Terri Wilke, (excused)

 

STAFF PRESENT:                         Executive Director Rehelio A. Samuel, Human Relations Specialists Allen Martin, Michelle Smith and Paul Winn, and Secretary Cynthia Colbert

 

STAFF ABSENT:                            None

 

GUESTS PRESENT:                     Mr. James Dunn, Mrs. Nancy Dunn, and Mr. Bob Ebey

 

 

Vice-Chair Mikesic called the meeting of the Lawrence Human Relations Commission to order at 11:06 AM in the LHR/HRD Conference Room.

 

ROLL CALL

Roll call revealed a quorum of the Commission was present.

 

ACCEPTANCE OF AGENDA

Commissioner Hillmer moved that the Agenda for November 17, 2004 be accepted. Commissioner Coleman seconded the motion. Motion carried.

 

ACCEPTANCE OF STAFF REPORT FOR August 1 – October 31, 2004 and MINUTES for August 18, 2004  

Commissioner Hodison moved that the Staff Report for August 1 – October 31, 2004 and the Minutes for August 18, 2004 be accepted. Commissioner Chao seconded the motion. Motion carried.

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

Equal Opportunity Law Update Seminar 2004 / Final Report

HRS Martin said the seminar was a great success. He noted it was the Department’s goal to achieve attendance of 200 registrants and a mean evaluation score of 7.5 (10 point scale). He stated there were 241 people attending, which is a record number of registrants, and attendees gave the seminar an overall score of 9.4 on a ten-point scale. HRS Martin asked for comments from LHRC members who attended the seminar. Commissioner Hodison said he thought it was a well put together program. He said the attendees he spoke with were elated with the session topics and presenters. Commissioner Hodison commended the LHR/HRD staff on a job well done.  Commissioner Coleman said the seminar was excellent. Commissioner Mikesic asked about the high level of expertise of the presenters. HRS Martin stated that we always try to select the “best of the best” when selecting presenters, and believes it shows in the many commendations received from the seminars. Commissioner Mikesic also commended the LHR/HRD staff for conducting an excellent program.

 

HUD National Fair Housing Training Academy

HRS Smith stated she attended the training academy from September 26 through October 1, 2004. She noted this was the first week of 5-weeks of required coursework towards certification. She said the course topics were “Fair Housing Law and Ethics”, Clear Writing Through Critical Thinking”, and “Critical Thinking and Investigations”. HRS Smith shared the academy course materials with the LHRC members.  HRS Winn stated the training he attended was excellent and commended Floyd May for his part in creating the Fair Housing Training Academy.

 

Vice-Chair Mikesic asked if most formal complaint investigations include onsite visits. HRS Smith said, yes, it is important to make at least one visit to the site in question on the complaint. A brief discussion ensued.

 

U.S.D. HUD Partnership Initiative 2004/2005 / Approved Projects

HRS Smith gave a briefing on the Partnership Initiative project conducted by Dr. Jesse Milan. She said two seminars had been held at Haskell Indian Nations University. HRS Smith said she presented information on fair housing, while Dr. Milan gave a presentation on predatory lending practices. Commissioner Coleman asked what could be done about predatory lending. HRS Smith said most predatory lending practices are legal, but take unfair advantage of low-income, fixed-income, and/or elderly people, so it is important for each person to be aware. She added that citizens should be contacting their legislators, pushing for laws against predatory lending practices. Commissioner Hodison noted that there is legislation regulating the banking industry in relation to predatory lending, but the legislation does not cover finance or mortgage companies. A brief discussion ensued. 

 

HRS Smith said Dr. Milan conducted three training sessions on accessibility compliance for landlords/property owners not meeting accessibility standards, in an effort to be proactive. She noted that of the 40 notices sent to housing providers not in compliance, 15 attended the follow-up seminars. Commissioner Hillmer suggested contacting the landlords that have not attended the accessibility training to find out why they have not responded to the contact letters.  HRS Martin gave an example of resistance to compliance and the steps taken by another Kansas city to overcome it. A brief discussion ensued.

 

Job Fair and Employment Seminar 2005

HRS Winn said the first planning meeting had been held. He stated the job fair and employment seminar would be a joint venture with the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, as well as other local businesses and agencies. HRS Winn said it would be held in April or March 2005, possibly at the Holiday Inn/Holidome, although other locations are being considered. A brief discussion ensued regarding the best time of year to conduct the job fair and employment seminar.

 

HRS Martin mentioned utilizing the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce to attract minority and women owned businesses to Lawrence Chamber economic development programs. A brief discussion ensued.

 

HRS Winn mentioned that the seminar would address the issue of the large number of Lawrence citizens that commute to other communities to work. He stated the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce has initiated a project, titled “Start Here”, to address the issue of commuting and the economic effect it has on the Lawrence community. He noted the focus of the project is to let citizens know that Lawrence is not just a great place to live, but also a great place to be employed.

 

Commissioners Augelli and Chao left at 11:55 a.m.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

Fair Housing Outreach

HRS Smith stated that she attended the Statewide Homeless Coalition Summit at the University of Kansas Union on October 14, 2004. She said 55 people attended the session in which she was a presenter. HRS Smith mentioned the presentation she gave at Haskell Indian Nations University in conjunction with Dr. Jesse Milan’s presentation on Predatory Lending.   HRS Smith said she met with Ms. Olantha Brown of Housing and Credit Counseling, Inc. (HCCI) to brief her on the fair housing activities of the LHR/HRD. Ms. Brown will be replacing Mr. Cornell Mayfield at HCCI.  HRS Smith said she is planning to give presentations at the Salvation Army to help train its consumers who are hoping to mainstream into traditional housing.

 

Fair Housing Month 2005

HRS Smith stated that, as usual, there would be a proclamation declaring April 2005 as Fair Housing Month in the City of Lawrence, Kansas. She noted the Landlord’s Seminar would be held April 22, 2004 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Lawrence Holiday Inn / Holidome.  HRS Smith said there would be a Tenant’s Information Fair April 23, 2004, instead of the usual seminar for tenants.  Director Samuel commended those housing providers who take the time to learn and share fair housing law information. He noted that over 125 housing providers typically attend the landlords’ seminar each year. Director Samuel noted that Mr. James Dunn and Mr. Bob Ebey would be taking over the reins of the Landlords of Lawrence Association, as they have in previous years.  He commended them for the outstanding job they have done supporting the activities of the LHRC/LHR-HRD.

 

2005 LHRC/LHRD Projects [Discussion]

HRS Winn said the 2005 Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration would be held January 13 – 17, 2005. He noted the speaker at the January 15th banquet would be Educator, Mr. Carl Boyd. The banquet will be held at the Kansas Union. On January 17th, Dr. Terrance J. Roberts, Ph.D. will be the keynote speaker at the community-wide commemorative service at the Lied Center. HRS Winn noted that Dr. Roberts is a member of the Little Rock Nine; nine black students who were the first to integrate public high school in Little Rock, Arkansas.

 

Director Samuel commended HRS Winn for his continued dedication and outstanding hard work while representing the LHRC/LHRD on the Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration committee.

 

 

It was agreed that additional projects for 2005 would be discussed at the next LHRC meeting.

 

 

COMMISSIONER’S COMMENTS

Commissioner Hillmer commended the LHR/HRD staff for their hard work, and for serving as a resource for the Lawrence community.

 

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR COMMENTS

Director Samuel announced the resignation of HRS Martin. He noted that HRS Martin has accepted the position of Executive Director with the City of Topeka Human Relations Commission. HRS Martin’s last day with the City of Lawrence will be November 29, 2004. Director Samuel thanked and commended HRS Martin for his years of hard work, dedication, and can-do attitude, as well as helping the LHR/HRD expand its outreach efforts to the citizens and business community of Lawrence. HRS Martin said he was happy with the time spent with the LHR/HRD and believed much had been accomplished. He stated the LHR/HRD has done more in the area of civil/human rights than any other he had seen, especially for an agency of its size. He added he would like to see the LHR/HRD and the Topeka Human Relations Commission participate in joint projects. HRS Martin thanked the LHRC and LHR/HRD for the years of encouragement and support.

 

Director Samuel noted HRS Smith and HRS Winn have completed one week of five weeks of required training at the HUD Academy. He mentioned this training is HUD mandated for all Fair Housing Assistance Program (FHAP) investigators. At the successful completion of the five weeks training, they will receive the distinction of being HUD Certified Fair Housing Investigators. Director Samuel noted the HUD Training Academy is housed on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

Mr. James Dunn gave comments regarding the Equal Opportunity Law Update Seminar. He gave additional comments on the topic of accessibility compliance. Mr. Dunn asked about the Fair Housing Month activities. HRS Smith commended Mr. James Dunn and Mr. Bob Ebey for their work in the area of Fair Housing, on behalf of the Department and Commission.

 

ADJOURNMENT

Commissioner Hillmer moved that the meeting be adjourned. Commissioner Hodison seconded the motion. Motion carried.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 12:20 p.m.